American broadcaster CNN has taken legal action against US President Donald Trump, and several of his aides, for barring the network’s senior correspondent from the White House.
The White House revoked CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass, known as a Secret Service “hard pass,” after an exchange of words between Trump and Acosta and the president’s harsh remarks during a press conference last week.
During the press conference, Acosta insisted on asking Trump a question.
Trump, in response to Acosta’s persistence, called him a “terrible, rude”, annoying person that should not be working for CNN.
In addition to a lawsuit filed against Trump, there were five other lawsuits. The other lawsuits were lodged against White House chief of staff John Kelly, press secretary Sarah Sanders, deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine, Secret Service director Randolph Alles, as well as the Secret Service officer who took Acosta’s hard pass away last Wednesday.
Sanders responded to the lawsuit, which was filed in US District Court in Washington, DC, saying the administration would “vigorously defend” itself.
Trump has frequently insulted news agencies and journalists, described news reports that contradict his views and policies as “fake news” and the media workers as “the enemy of the people.”
Even the United Nations warned Trump against his hostility towards the media.
In August, the US Senate adopted a non-binding resolution emphasizing the “vital and indispensable role” of the media, declaring that “the press is not the enemy of the people.”
US Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, had likened the hostile language used by Trump against the media to former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
CNN said the purpose of the suit was to immediately restore Acosta’s access to the White House and prevent the administration from revoking Acosta’s pass in the future. – Press TV.
